River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-03-03
The Mill that Grinds at the Bottom
of the Sea.

1 III NAiC Va AcAih az eAASAS hNSN wv
brothers, Tom and Jack. Jack had ac-
cumulated great riches, while Tom lived
under the roof of poverty.
1t was not seldom that Jack had aided
Tom, when in need, and he was getting
tired OF it, for he thought he might get
along himself.
1t was a cold Christmas eve, and Tom
again went in search of his brother. Now
that his own and his wife's life depended
upon Jacks goodness. if he hesitated TO
help them, death was sure TO ensue.
When Jack had listened to Toms plead
ing, he said: / will help you this time too,
if you will promise TO do what l ask of
you. Tom promised and Jack took a
quarter of beef and flung it towards him
saying. take that and go right to He'll"
1t seemed TO be rather hard road to
take, but Tom thanked him and answered,
"What l have promised | shall fulfill. !"
Aud thereupon he hurried away as fast
as he could.
He walked and he wandered all day
till about dusk, then he reached large
dwelling house that seemed to be lit up
with great glImmering lights.
Outside stood an old man with bent
form and long snow-white beard, split
ting wood. "How do you do, says Tom;
How de do; where are you bound for,
this late hour" answered the old man.
o, l am looking around for a place called
Hell, am | on the right road Yes, you
have found it. Walk right in, all guests
are generally welcome here. But first let
me whisper a word of warning in your
ear. Meat is rare food in Hell, there
fore they viii gather around you, all eager
to procure the meat; but don't give it up
without getting the mill for it, that stands
behind the door. And when you come
out again I'll show you how to run it.
Thereupon Tom raped at the Gate
way of Hell, 'and was Immediately ush-
cred into an innumerable crowd offerings
of every description. 1t went as the old
man had foretold. They crowded and
fluttered around him, one trying to over
bid the other ON the meat But Tom
wouldn't give it up till the Head man"
brought out the little mill and exchanged
il for the meat.
Tom, well satisfied with his bargain,
went out to the woodsplitter and after hav-
ing learned how to manage his little treas
ure, thanked the old man for his kindness
and hurried homeward He reached
home at about u o'clock at night, to find
| his poor wife almost dead with cold and
hunger.
Tom" says she, "where have you
| been all this timer" "Never mind, wife, f"
said Tom, 81 couldn't come any sooner,
| / had 50 many corners to turn; but
look here, we will know no more want
| now" At the same time he placed the
mill on the table.
AS he ordered so it ground, first victuals
and drink, then light and so on until
Toms wife sat stupeied with wonder.
She wanted to know where he had OBJ
tanned this machine, but he gave her only
some senseless answers. Well, after a
few days when they had supplied them
selves with sufficient food for great num-
Der, they sent out invitations for great
party.
Among the invited was also Jack.
When he saw the many beautiful things
and delicious food in his brothers house,
he became jealous of him and insisted
upon knowing where he had obtained his
1 -, ~
the door, behind the door, But later on
in the evening when Tom was getting
rather jovial, he forgot his secret and
brought out the mill and putting it on the
table said: Here you see the instrument
that has given me my riches" This made
Jack so eager to obtain this producer of
wealth that he would not leave Toms
house without this mill. Tom thinking
that Jack would soon bring the mill back
to him again, at last let him take it for
$500.
Jack, anxious to bring his valuable
treasure home. never thought that any
advice was needed to run it,
On the following day, instead of going
into the field TO work with the men, he
sent his wife out, thinking that he could
get dinner himself. When the time for
dinner had arrived and the workers were
not called home, Jacks wife said, they
had better start homeward, for Jack
might need some help, for he was not
used to cooking; but you can imagine
their surprise when they saw Jack run.
ming down the hill that lead towards
Toms house, yelling as loud as his
lungs would allow him: Take that mil
away this minute, for lift grinds another
hour we viii all drown in soup" Poor
Jack had commanded the mill &c
grind bread, butter and soup enough fol
dinner, and after all the empty dishes
in the house were filed with soup, he
twisted and screwed, trying to stop it, but
in vain. And now you see the result: the
room was filed, and all Jack could do was
to wade to the door and get out.
A wide stream Of soup followed him
down the hill. Then do you blame Jacl
for wanting the mill out Of the way
When Tom saw Jack coming he knew
his object, but he wouldn't take the mil
away before Jack had paid him 500
, more Jack was thankful that their live:
were saved and willingly let Tom take
both the mill and the money with
him. Tom began TO feel pretty rich
but, "much wants MORE" and so it wa,
with him. He had not had the mill Ions
before be had so much gold ground ou
that he covered his whole house and the
grounds that bordered along the shore
Of large sea, with gold plates
Therefore this dwelling received thC
name, The Golden Mansion" 1t became
D an object Of great curiosity and was Wis
tied by the passengers Of every passins
ship, for the mill that had given Tom al